What is Dog Gone Blog?

Dog Gone Blog is a blog for real dogs (if they could read and had the inclination and opposable thumbs to work a mouse) and the people who love them written by a professional dog trainer and owner of two labrador retrievers. Dog related product reviews, training tips, reader's photos, a healthy dose of opinion and merriment ensues.
We hope you will Sit, Stay and Speak. Enjoy!

Have a product you'd like reviewed?

All requests for reviews should be sent to Dog Gone Blog [at] yahoo [dot] com.

Watch out! I bite.

July 25, 2007

I know I owe you - my three readers - an advice post but I've been so busy preparing myself for this little conference I'm going to that I have not yet written a response to your (my readers in the queue) questions. I'm sorry for that. I promise that as soon as I get back I'll get down to the business of forcing my opinions on how you should raise your dogs. You're welcome.

In the meantime, if you have not yet sent in a question about your dog's behavior, training or lack thereof, or any other dog related question you can think of - and you'd like to - please send them to Dog Gone Blog at yahoo dot com. I'm really enjoying the ones I've received so far and the ones coming up are really fantastic, in a horribly difficult to answer sort of way. They really run the gamut but what I'm really looking for is questions from families with dogs. In particular, families with school-aged or younger children. And if you're thinking of getting a dog in the near future and you already have kids at home, I'd love to hear from you too.

And to you readers who found yourself here from one of my business cards - Hello! Welcome. Pull up a chair. Don't mind the dog hair, there's nothing I can do about that. But it adds a certain something to the wardrobe, don't you think? If you look closely at my clothing or my laptop while we're at Blogher you're sure to find a few stray dog hairs sticking out here and there.

So, as I was saying to you newbies - have a look around. Get comfortable. Feedback is important to this blog so if you'd like to see something in particular or you would like some advice (hey, it's free!) send your thoughts to the address above. Or leave it in the comments. Or buy me a drink at Blogher and tell me all about your pooch. I love to talk dog.

I'll be back next week! Chow chow.

(Yeah, I know it's spelled "Ciao", but a Chow is a dog and I thought it was funny and... Sheesh. Tough audience.)

June 18, 2007

This Friday the 22nd is Take Your Dog to Work Day. Started in 1999 by Pet Sitters International, this is the one day of the year that you might be able to convince that hard-a*s of a boss to lighten up a little and let you bring your pooch to the office.

Now, on the surface this may seem like a great idea, and it can be, but bringing your dog to work also has the potential to be a career ender.

(And, yes, I know I'm being a wet blanket but I'm trying to save you from being the office pariah so bear with me. A bad experience with a dog in the work place can be worse for your career than stealing the boss's Kung Pao chicken from the office refrigerator.)

So I've compiled a list of do's and don'ts for TYDtW Day.

Do:

Get permission from the boss to bring your dog to work. Don't just show up on Friday with Rover in tow without talking to the powers that be first.

Bring your dog in on a leash. I shouldn't have to say that but... Yeah. I do.

Have respect for your co-workers. If you know that Sally has horrible pet allergies or Larry is afraid of dogs it's probably best to leave Rover at home. If you do get the green light please make sure your co-workers are not being constantly bothered by a slobbery head in their laps every five minutes. You should probably make sure the dog doesn't bug them either.

Make sure your dog is well trained and listens well... And not just if you have a cookie in your hand. I mean he knows his commands even if you don't have a liver treat dangling over his head.

Make sure he has his I.D. tags and rabies tag on his collar. You never know, he could slip away unnoticed when an elevator door opens in search of a hot Administrative Assistant.

Don't:

Bring your dog to work if he is a habitual "marker". It's hard enough to work in a cube farm without the walls of your work space reaking of urine.

Bring your dog to work if he is a chronic jumper. You don't want to have to pay for 25 dry cleaning bills, or worse, new work clothes for your co-workers.

Bring your dog to work if he is a barker. It's hard enough to get your work done with Margaret from accounting always stopping by your office for a "short" chat about her latest needlework project... As a matter of fact, if your dog barks at all make sure you bring him over to meet Margaret.

Neglect your work to care for your dog. Make sure Rover has plenty of water, (quiet) chew toys, and food at the beginning of the day and take him out for periodic bathroom breaks, but don't play tug-of-war if you have a major upcoming deadline. If your work suffers I'm fairly certain the boss will make sure you and everybody else isn't allowed to bring your dogs to work next year. And let's face it, you're probably already shirking a few of your duties surfing the web. You don't want to lose that luxury.

Forget that this is supposed to be a special privilege. Enjoy yourself and others will enjoy your dog too.